Annie Claus is Coming to Town - Hallmark Channel Christmas Movie

MOVIE REVIEW

Annie Claus is Coming to Town

Previously titled:
Annie Claus' Year Off and
Annie Kringle's Year Off

Network: Hallmark Channel

Original Air Date: December 10, 2011

CAST:

Maria Thayer ... Annie Claus
Vivica A. Fox ... Lucy
Nay Nay Kirby ... Mia
Sam Page ... Ted
Ryan Bittle
Vicki Lawrence

PLOT:

from Hallmark:

Annie Claus is Coming to Town is the story of Santa's Daughter, Annie Kringle, age 29, who, having spent her entire life in Santa's Village, gets a year's sabbatical to experience the outside world, and then decide if she would like to take over the family business upon her father's (the current Santa's) retirement.

Annie is in charge of Toy Manufacturing. She oversees the production and distribution of all toys and her division is a well-oiled machine. She is stellar at her job and while her parents don't want to lose her, they know that they must offer her this opportunity. Because of her father's tales, she chooses Los Angeles for her Christmas sabbatical, and soon the adventure begins.

In "Annie Claus is Coming to Town," Santa's daughter (Thayer) takes her first trip away from the North Pole during the Christmas season hoping to find adventure and love in sunny California. While Santa watches his daughter through a magic snow globe, Annie arrives in L.A. and becomes friends with the owner of Candy Cane Inn, Lucy (Fox), and her daughter, Mia (Nay Nay Kirby, "Dance Flick"). She also quickly lands a job at Wonderland Toys. Wonderland Toys' owner, Ted (Page) is struggling to stay in business selling old-fashioned toys in a digital world.

Annie soon realizes that she wants Ted's business to thrive because she has feelings for this Christmas traditionalist. Annie also knows that when she finds her true love, she and her mate will move back to the North Pole to take over the family business. But Santa isn't the only one watching Annie through the looking glass. So is a senior Santa Elf who himself wants to inherit the Ho Ho Ho of Holidays, so much so that he hires a Hollywood actor to feign affection for Annie. Although Annie temporarily falls for the imposter, she realizes there is something about Ted that is unforgettable. Will Annie's choice make her Christmas - and everyone else's - - merry and bright?

Larry Levinson is the executive producer for Larry Levinson Productions.